So she drooped and drooped before him, And at last, with anguish bent, To his freedom did restore him, Following her dear instrument. He survived in state and bounty, Lord of Burleigh, young and free, Not a lord in all the county Was so great a fool as he. CECIL. _The Kettering Observer_, March 21, 1884. When Lord Burghley, M.P. (son of the Marquis of Exeter), took the English farmers to task for allowing their daughters to play the piano, and to learn a few of the polite little accomplishments of the day, his remarks were generally resented as impertinent, and his name lent itself irresistibly to the ridicule contained in the preceding parody of Tennyson's "Lord of Burleigh." Inasmuch as Tennyson's poem was founded on incidents connected with the courtship and marriage of the first Marquis of Exeter, to Sarah Hoggins, the daughter of a small yeoman farmer at Bolas Magna, in Shropshire. The marriage took place in October, 1791, and the lady died in January, 1797, leaving two sons, of whom the elder became the second Marquis of Exeter, and was the grandfather of the Lord Burghley above referred to. * * * * * THE FAITHLESS PEELER. Skulking slily down the area, He to her his mind doth tell-- "I feel somewhat dry, my Mary, And some beer would be as well." She replies, by way of feeler, "La, who'd thought of seeing thee?" He is but a smart young peeler, And a maid-of all-work she. He to lips that do not falter, Raises up the half-pint mug; Vows his love will never alter-- Eyeing hard the empty jug. "I can pick that bone of pheasant, Little care I for a knife-- Love, it makes our duty pleasant, Luncheon love I dear as life." He across the kitchen going, Sees two lordly bottles stand; "India pale" within them glowing, And he grasps one in each hand. From deep thought himself he rouses, Says to her that loves him well, "I could pop these in my trousers' Pocket, and no one might tell." This he doth by her attended, And they lovingly converse Of the toothsome things that tended To bind so close his heart to hers. Leg of pork, with sauce of apple, Fowl and bacon and broad beans; cold roast beef, with which he'd grapple, Sooner than with warmed-up greens. What she gives him makes her dearer, Such she hopes to be the case; Hopes his beat will still be near her, Should she ever change her place. Oh! but he doth love her truly; He shall have a cup of tea-- She will bring it to him duly, Some time after half-past three.